Tate McRae, a 22-year-old musician from Alberta, faced backlash this week for her appearance in an NBC advertisement promoting the 2026 U.S. Winter Olympics team. Criticism arose on social media, accusing McRae of favoring the United States over Canada. In response, McRae took to Instagram to affirm her Canadian loyalty, sharing a childhood photo with a Canadian flag.
The NBC ad features McRae on a mountain in a red ski outfit, interacting with an owl in the Olympic co-host city of Cortina. She mentions her excitement for the opening ceremony in Milan, meeting Team USA, watching American skaters compete for gold, and Lindsey Vonn’s comeback, followed by the Super Bowl LX.
The controversy sparked discussions online, with Canadian actor Jack Innanen calling out McRae for supporting the U.S. amid strained Canada-U.S. relations, citing threats of annexation and trade disputes. Pop culture commentator Liz Duff highlighted the significance of McRae’s alignment with Canadian imagery in her career, creating expectations that clashed with her Team USA endorsement in the ad.
Duff noted the generational aspect of the situation, emphasizing the scrutiny faced by other Canadians like Josh Ross and Wayne Gretzky for perceived disloyalty to Canada. The criticism from individuals like Innanen, who share a similar demographic with McRae, underscores a shift in Gen Z’s cultural allegiances.
Despite the backlash, McRae’s record label did not provide an immediate comment on the matter when approached by CBC News. The incident reflects broader debates within Canadian pop culture and the evolving dynamics of national allegiance.
